UI Foundation/UI Advancement Weekly Update 09.10.21

Dear Team:

What a week!  Yes, it was just a four-day work week, but having been away on vacation for a bit, I returned to a full inbox of emails and a backlog of calls, meetings, and projects. I’m not complaining, you have all been there, that’s just the way it works.  The “reentry” experience is definitely a little stressful, but it is also a good time to practice prioritizing things and maintaining some perspective on what is really most important. This week, I personally have been reminded that we can’t let perfection be the enemy of progress.

Perfection is a crazy thing. Some people are fixated on being perfect while others are perfectly content with putting their best foot forward and letting the chips fall where they may. In reality, even those who strive for perfection rarely, if ever, achieve it.  However, their quest for excellence is undeterred and they are appropriately lauded for their imperfect accomplishments.  Athletes win gold medals with less than perfect performances, and medical innovations that are not full-proof cures for every patient, save countless lives.

I’m not suggesting we ever settle for less than our best effort, but I do know good things happen even when the best laid plans come up a little short of perfect. For example, yesterday, we had a meeting of our Advancement Program Management Team (APMT). The meeting was originally scheduled to take place over two-days and include in-person sessions, workshops and even some social time. For me that would be a perfect way to convene this important leadership team and a great way to connect with my colleagues. Unfortunately, due to the need to comply with the recently announced guidelines for gathering, we decided to revert to a virtual zoom meeting.  While we were not able to chat over lunch or socialize during breaks, we had a very productive meeting. It wasn’t perfect, but it was time well-spent, and in addition to the stimulating discussions, we also had plenty of laughs.

I think it is safe to say, most of us are not fans of the social distancing and protective guidelines related to COVID, but to a certain degree they are what make life livable right now.  By taking precautions to protect ourselves and others, we can dine at indoor restaurants, go to sporting and cultural events, attend business meetings, participate in school activities, and even travel. We can engage face-to-face (ok, maybe mask-to-mask) with our friends, families, co-workers, and donors. We can continue to support the university’s transformational power for impacting the world and do it well. Is it perfect? No. Is it livable? Absolutely!

Even if we must take a step back from time to time, we’ve learned over the past 18 months that we can and will persevere.  I’m just about caught up on my emails and I feel like I had a fairly productive four-day week. I hope you did as well and as you turn off your computer at the end of the day, make sure you put yourself at the top of your priority list. 

In closing, I’ll leave you with this quote from Champaign native and Washington Post columnist George Will, “The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement.” Here’s to never stopping trying to improve—and to a perfectly enjoyable weekend.

Best,

Jim